Can You Cure Alopecia?
Do you wake up and see hair strands on your pillow or on your bed? It could be just a simple hair fall, of course, nothing to worry about. Then again, it could also be something worse, like alopecia areata, for example.
What exactly is this disorder? What causes it? Can you cure alopecia?
What is alopecia?
Alopecia areata, also known as just alopecia, is a disorder that causes you to lose your hair in various parts of the body, typically your head. It’s thought to be a kind of autoimmune disorder where your immune system mistakenly attacks your own hair follicles, thus preventing hair growth.
Alopecia takes many forms, although the main form, alopecia areata, typically refers to the kind that causes patchy bald spots, usually on the head. The kind that occurs only and completely on the head is called alopecia totalis, while alopecia that occurs on the entire body is called alopecia universalis. Meanwhile, the kind that causes weirdly-shaped patches is called ophiasis alopecia.
What causes alopecia?
There are many different reasons why people experience alopecia. Most of the time, sufferers start to see symptoms before the age of 30. In some cases, it happens gradually. In others, it happens in just a few days.
Some sources claim that alopecia could be caused by prolonged and severe stress. While there isn’t enough evidence to prove this, we do know that stress has the power to mess up several things in our bodies, and that could include our immune system.
One of the biggest proven factors to alopecia is genetics. One out of every five people suffering from alopecia actually has a family member who’s also suffering from alopecia. This means that the tendency for alopecia to run in families is very high.
On the upside, alopecia isn’t contagious, so there’s no need to worry about catching it from somebody else.
Can you cure alopecia?
Sadly, there is no cure for alopecia, at least not at the time of writing. For people diagnosed with alopecia, there’s no way to prevent the formation of new bald spots, or to prevent total hair loss in some cases.
The good news is that there is still hope for those who suffer from alopecia. Aside from medications that help grow hair back, it’s also not too uncommon to hear of hair growing back naturally after months or even years of bald spots.
Alopecia can be a rather cruel disorder, but believe us, you’re strong enough to take it head on. There are various creams and medications nowadays that can help you deal with it. And of course, you can always use hair extensions and wigs to temporarily gain back your beautiful locks, while waiting for the real treasure to emerge once more: your crowning glory.
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